Case Review – Motorcycle Accident Recovery

Case Review – Motorcycle Accident Recovery

Insurance companies demand confidentiality in certain cases in order to keep their identity and adjusting tactics hidden. The following case review has fictional names, but is otherwise based upon a real-life case.

On the evening of March 22, 2016, David Jones was riding his motorcycle southbound on State Road 776 as Jane Doe was driving northbound in a vehicle owned by Fast Eddie. When Jane Doe made an unexpected left turn in front of him, David applied his brakes and laid his bike down. Unable to avoid the collision, David sustained severe, life-threatening injuries, was airlifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and admitted to the ICU.

David suffered acute respiratory distress, multiple fractures, and dislocations to his ankle, scapula, femur, tibia, back, and ribs. Multiple orthopedic surgeries stabilized his fractures, but he was unable to walk for months. When his legs could bear weight, he had to use a walker and later a cane. His injuries left him unable to take care of simple daily activities or operate a vehicle for almost a year after the accident. Within three months his total medical charges were $430,000, and significant future medical expenses were expected.

David hired Wittmer | Linehan to investigate the accident and the available insurance. Letters were sent to Jane Doe’s state-approved insurance company, which provided $100,000 in injury liability coverage and $100,000 in property loss coverage. As often happens, the insurance company was quick to tender their $100,000 for injury loss coverage, but failed to offer any property damage loss reimbursement and required that David sign an overbroad and unacceptable release. The insurance company release required that David release both Jane and Fast Eddie from all other claims for injuries, release all property losses, and required that David indemnify, defend, and protect Jane, Fast Eddie, and their insurance company from any medical provider claims of subrogation.

Following the insurance company’s offer, and prior to obtaining a formal appraisal of his property losses, David advised the insurance company that he was willing to resolve his claims in exchange for full payment of the injury policy ($100,000) and payment of $8,500 in property losses if they could prove neither Jane nor Fast Eddie had any additional available insurance. The insurance company’s counter offer was to pay the full injury losses and to pay $5,500 for the property losses. The company also stated Fast Eddie owned another vehicle that may have additional insurance, but failed to provide additional information about this additional policy in a timely manner. With missing policy information, an unacceptable release, and a low ball property damage offer, David made the decision to file a lawsuit.

After a year of litigation, we proved that David’s past and future medical care costs were approaching $1 million. In the mediation settlement conference, we showed how the insurance company attempted to hide coverages, refused to pay the full amount of losses, and required a release indemnifying and protecting the defendants from any medical care claim. The insurance company’s unnecessary delay in resolving this claim and request for an overly broad release and other protections exposed their insured to a judgment which vastly exceeded his available coverage. The insurance company agreed to a confidential amount that represented the full value of his claim. This case is a textbook example of why it is important to retain Wittmer | Linehan. We understand insurance laws in Florida and know how to protect you from insurance companies who unnecessarily delay settlements or require abusive terms and conditions in order to resolve your claim.

Whether your personal injury causes you to suffer physical or psychological injury directly due to another person’s negligence, we can help. At Wittmer | Linehan our attorneys employ a practical and professional approach to ensure our clients obtain full and fair recovery for their injuries. This includes damages for their past and future medical bills, lost income, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. We use our extensive civil litigation experience, our knowledge about insurance company tactics and our skills at settlement negotiation to obtain the best possible benefit for our clients.

Our personal injury law firm help victims recover their losses for the injuries that they have suffered. The personal injury attorneys at Wittmer | Linehan have successfully help injured clients recover just compensation for losses resulting from auto accidents, medical malpractice, unsafe or defective products, slips and falls and negligent conditions.

Your welfare is our priority. We provide personalized legal guidance at every step of your case and fully inform you about the legal strategy and recovery options available.

Our attorneys consult with knowledgeable and respected experts to assist with case preparation. With the support of physicians, trauma doctors, pharmacists, chiropractors, forensics engineers, mechanics and accident reconstruction analysts, we can negotiate the best possible settlements. At trial, these experts are available to deliver clear, professional testimony.

Florida law sets limits on the amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim. Consult Wittmer and Linehan, experienced personal injury attorneys as soon as possible so your claim is filed within crucial statutory deadlines.

If you or a loved one has been injured, call (941) 365-2296 to schedule a free consultation. We are one of the leading most experienced personal Injury firms in both Sarasota and Manatee County. We have the largest verdict ever awarded in these 2 Counties. We proudly serve Southwest Florida and the surrounding communities.

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I was very pleased with the work of the law office of Wittmer and Linehan. Michelle Miller was wonderful. She was very helpful and informative when it came to telling me how everything would go. This process was made very painless and went very smooth and I don't believe I would have had the same outcome on my own. So thankful for the work of this law firm and am thoroughly pleased. I will definitely recommend your services to others who need it.

Danielle Petersen, Bradenton, FL

I found your advice to be professional; your reply to my inquiries prompt; and your demeanor patient and kind. You treated mother with the utmost respect giving her extraordinary measures of explanation even during difficult times when she did not fully understand the situation or the ramifications of her decision. Your mediation skills produced generous and fair settlement and your negotiation skills with all the suppliers reduced our actual expenses beyond my expectations. So, I am left to simply state: Thank you!

Dr. Kenneth P Redmann, Pastor, Port Charlotte, FL

[Wittmer | Linehan] Provided excellent service while handling the case through emails and phone calls due to distance between us (MO - FL). Staff was professional and helpful at all times.

Michael Faith, Sarasota, FL

I was offered $5,000 by the insurance company. By using lawyers, I got $9000, so you were definitely helpful to me.

Our attorneys have achieved many impressive results on cases with limited insurance policies. They have been successful in cases where a trial was necessary to achieve the desired results for our clients. Our firm has also been able to secure judgments against insurance companies that refused to protect their insured(s) by properly evaluating the claims against them.